CHART News

Author:

Created:

4/17/2015 6:09 AM

UNO-CHART is an applied social science hazards research center at The University of New Orleans that collaborates with Louisiana communities including the City of New Orleans and its surrounding parishes. This blog details CHART's activities.

CHART's Assistant Director, Tara Lambeth, attended the 2016 Natural Hazards Workshop held in Broomfield, Colorado. The workshop included sessions on hazards, resilience and climate change and was attended by 400 people, including emergency officials, members of nonprofits and community organizations, and hazard researchers (hazards.colorado.edu/workshop).

CHART's Director, Dr. Monica Farris, and Assistant Director, Tara Lambeth, presented at the 2016 Association of State Floodplain Managers in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The presentation provided information on mitigating repetitive losses and how that relates to the community rating system. French Wetmore, a floodplain management expert, also participated in the presentation. The presentation discussed

the repetitive loss analyses process to include the site selection process, field work/data collection, and the mitigation recommendations provided to the communities, such as elevation, dry floodproofing, and green infrastructure. It also detailed a repetitive loss analysis update, wherein the team returned to a community to review the mitigation measures that took place after the initial analysis was completed. Finally, the presentation included a brief demonstration of the online repetitive loss portal.The Repetitive Loss Portal gives local officials secure and easy access to data necessary for the grant application process for funds identified for mitigation of the repetitive loss properties. The data are also utilized for planning purposes, including planning for non-FEMA funded projects, such as drainage projects.

CHART's Director, Dr. Monica Farris, and Assistant Director, Tara Lambeth, presented information to a senior center in New Orleans East on how to prepare for hurricanes, what supplies to bring, and how to make a family plan. CHART also provided the center with copies of our Preparing for Storms Take Home Guide, which provides information on hurricanes and sample supply lists.

CHART"s Assistant Director, Tara Lambeth, presented at State of the Coast 2016. Her presentation was entitled "Determining Localized Risk Perception and Impacts of Projected Sea Level Rise to Enhance Stakeholder Mitigation Planning Through Visualization Tools", and detailed a project that, in partnership with Louisiana Sea Grant, supports coastal sustainability through a better understanding of coastal ecosystems using local knowledge. The project team collaborates with coastal residents to develop adaptation strategies utilizing remotes sensing, GIS and interviews. Residents identify key points and resources which are at risk, and discuss ways they have adapted to land loss and sea level rise, as well as ways they may adapt to these hazards in the future. CHART also provided materials on the Resilience Curriculum and Risk Literacy Project at a booth at the conference.

CHART's Director, Monica Farris, and Graduate Research Assistant, Michelle Espinoza, participated in an exercise testing the city's hurricane evacuation methods. The participants took buses to the UPT, and were registered and brought to the airport. The exercise tested the efficiency and workability of the city assisted evacuation process. The exercise was lead by the City of New Orleans and Evacuteer.

As a part of CHART's evacuation project and partnership with the city, CHART attended a virtual tabletop exercise for faith-based leaders. The exercise delved into ways to prepare for hurricanes, and assist with hurricane response and recovery.

CHART provided materials on preparing for storms at a faith-based and community preparedness event, hosted by the City of New Orleans and FEMA and held at the University of New Orleans on May 18th. CHART also provided the same materials at the NHC Gulf Coast Hurricane Awareness Tour, held at the Lakefront Airport later that day.

UNO-CHART participated in the Louisiana Floodplain Management Association (LFMA)'s 33rd Annual Technical & Business Conference in Baton Rouge. Director Monica Farris and Assistant Director Tara Lambeth presented on their FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency-funded Repetitive Loss Project. UNO-CHART alumna Maggie Olivier (now floodplain manager for Jefferson Parish) and Farris both received certificates of appreciation from LADOTD for their “dedication, knowledge and assistance to the citizens of the state of Louisiana with regard to the Community Rating System.”

Since 2001, UNO-CHART has trained over 100 students, 90% of whom have or will graduate from the University of New Orleans. These students are continuing their mitigation careers by becoming community and regional leaders. On March 3rd, the New Orleans City Council honored our accomplishments.